Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hameed Isma’eelzahi left Iranshahr heading to Nikshahr city next day (Monday, 18 Feb.) in his latest journey to some central and southern regions of Baluchistan, Iran.
While traveling to Nikshahr, Shaikh stayed for a short time in Khayrabad village on the way. He met with the residents of the town and talked to them about the noble Qur’an. He recited the Qur’anic verse: «وَاتَّقُواْ يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللّهِ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ» [بقره: 281], (Be fearful of a day when you shall be returned to Allah, then every person shall be paid, in full, what he has earned, and they shall not be wronged.) He said the Companions, may Allah be pleased with all of them, were the first addressees of the noble Qur’an; now we are the addressees of the Qur’an. It is talking to us to be fearful of the day of Resurrection; we must not be amorous of money. A real Muslim must be afraid of accountability on the Judgment Day.
If you ask me about the biggest calamity of Muslims of the current time, I would answer it is neglecting prayers and not offering Salah properly, Shaikh urged.
Meeting with the people of “Hariduk” (Lashar)
In his trip, Shaikh Isma’eelzahi went to Hariduk village where residents of the town were awaiting their leader outside the village.
Shaikh presented his speech after Dhuhr prayers. He underlined the noble Qur’an was the greatest blessing of Allah. If developed countries are proud of their technology and industrial achievements, Muslims are proud of the noble Qur’an. It responds to all questions of human beings. This great book makes earthly mankind ‘heavenly’.
He added more, “Our good predecessors and the Companions of Holy Prophet, peace & blessings be upon him, remained ‘eternal’ only thanks to the noble Qur’an. The Qur’an has not been changed, it has its previous power and virtues; change has affected Muslims. Due to carelessness of Muslims on acting upon the directions of the Qur’an, they have been facing problems and harsh abjections. If today’s Muslims return to Allah Almighty, they will retain their brilliant past and due status.”
Shaikh showed his gladness over the role of active Islamic schools and seminaries of Lashar region. He asked Islamic scholars and cultural activists to boost Qur’anic teachings and sciences in the town, so the new generation will be close with the Qur’an. It protects students from strange civilizations and cultures when they join any university anywhere.
Speech of Shaikh in Nikshahr city
On Monday afternoon, Shaikh-ul-Islam and his comrades were welcomed by thousands of residents of Nikshahr who were waiting for their scholars for hours.
Nikshahr is an important city located on the Chabahar Highway. There is a big grand mosque with some floors which are under construction right now. A seminary with one hundred students shows the close connection of people with their religion.
Before Shaikh-ul-Islam, Molawi Abdullah Wahidifar, Khateeb of Sunnis in Nikshahr talked to the audience and welcomed Shaikh and his friends.
He began his speech by reading the Qur’anic verse: «إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا» [احزاب: 72], (We did offer the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear its burden and were afraid of it, and man picked it up. Indeed he is unjust (to himself), unaware (of the end.) he said before creation of humankind, Allah the Almighty created the universal things to prepare them for a special guest that was humankind. Then He conducted a competition between Adam and angels. Adam gave the correct answer and won the competition. Adam was given the capability to get knowledge. Mankind accepted to bear the burden of the great Trust due to that capability.
Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah further said human beings are under test always; Allah the Exalted states: «الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ» [ملک: 2], (the One who created death and life, so that He may test you as to which of you is better in his deeds. And He is the All-Mighty, the Most-Forgiving.) Mostly people get stress on tests and examinations; test is a hard thing. We should be careful about the test of Allah. The Qur’an, faith and Islam are the trusts on our shoulders; we have been appointed ‘trustees’ for them. We must meditate ‘have we done our duties’ in this regard?
Hijab for women is another ‘trust’; they should ignore nude cultures and lifestyles. Islamic covering is a trust on Muslim women. It is the sign of civilization and personality of women. Nakedness can not be counted the symbol of ‘advancement’, he added more.
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan emphasized saying ‘misdeed’ and ‘timidity’ are the reasons for ruin of any nation. But people of some states in the Middle East proved by their revolutions and uprisings that they want Islam. They have been sacrificing to protect their religion and faith.
He pointed ‘implementation of justice’ was another trust of Allah the Almighty on the shoulders of mankind. All should do their best to be just; rulers and masses must not violate each others’ rights. As parents must be fair with their all children, rulers also should behave with masses impartially.
Journey to “Heet”
On Tuesday morning, Shaikh-ul-Islam took part in a meeting with the hospitable residents of Heet town of the Qasarqand district.
In his sermon to people inside the Grand Masjid of Heet, Shaikh Abdol-Hameed alluded to the goal of humankind’s creation and said, “The entire universe and tools on the earth are like provisions of a traveler; they can not be main aim of mankind. Eating, drinking and dressing do not enhance the position of anyone; these are just blessings of Allah to facilitate the life for humankind. The main goal is to worship Allah the Exalted as He himself ordered. Regrettably many of people think they have been created to benefit tools of life and earthly means.
Visit of Qasarqand city
After meeting and talking with the residents of Heet, Shaikh headed to Qasarqand city. Before Dhuhr prayers, the meeting was started by welcome speech of ‘Molawi Sekandari’, representative of Khateeb and Friday Imam of the city.
For his part, the professor of Hadith in Darululoom Zahedan talked about the sweet fruits of patience. He began his notes by reading the Qur’anic verse: «وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ» [بقره: 130], (Who can turn away from the faith of Ibrahim except the one who has debased himself in folly? Indeed We have chosen him in this world. And he is certainly among the righteous in the Hereafter.) The prophet Ibrahim faced many tests of Allah Almighty; he was descended down into fire, he slaughtered his son and left his family in a dry valley. In response to all tests, he only said: “I submit myself to the Lord of all the worlds.” So when a servant submits to the Almighty, He accepts all of his prays.
He underlined the best and loving thing before Allah Almighty is Islam. Islam should be taught and preached in the society. It is the way to make Islam and Islamic teachings eternal.
Shaikh-ul-Islam in Talang town
During his spiritual travel, Khateeb of Sunnis visited “Talang” town of Chabahar after driving on the 25km-cumrous and mountainous path toward the main village. This town includes about 60 villages of the Chabahar district. There is a reputable Islamic school with 200 students in Talang.
The meeting function was organized in an open area as the number of participators was in hundreds. The meeting was begun by welcome note of a local scholar and a beautiful Baluchi nasheed.
After speech of Shaikh Muhammad Othman Qalandarzahi on Ahl-us-Sunnah’s beliefs regarding Sahabah, the Companions of Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, Shaikh-ul-Islam Abdol-Hameed held the stage.
He initiated his discourse by reading the noble verse: «إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ» [فصلت: 30], (Surely, those who have declared: Our Lord is Allah, then remained steadfast, on them the angels will descend, saying,: Do not fear, and do not grieve; and be happy with the good news of the Jannah (Paradise) that you had been promised.)
The eminent Islamic scholar emphasized saying it is impossible any real believer remains safe of Allah’s tests. Prophets faced the most difficult tests, then the ones who are more similar to them as a Hadith suggests. Good Muslims bear any sort of difficulty and harshness.
Shaikh addressed the people of Talang, “I am afraid of my nation; you may see the punishment of Allah the Almighty due to negligence. Establish prayers constantly; then you will meet the blessings of Allah. This is the end of real Muslims.”
Shaikh Isma’eelzahi among the people of Konarak
After visiting rector of Chabahar’s famous seminary and his students of the final year, Shaikh Abdol-Hameed headed to his last stop, Konarak city. A huge number of devotee residents of the district were awaiting Shaikh-ul-Islam outside of Konarak city. People accompanied him to the newly built Grand Mosque of Konarak at the beach where Shaikh took part in a meeting as the chief guest.
He expressed his happiness over inauguration of the Grand Khaat-ul-Anbya Masjid of Konarak saying money can get value if it is expended on such everlasting buildings. The best wealth is that we spend it and receive rewards endlessly.
The prominent scholar called on all attendees to offer prayers properly on time. He advised women to wear good cloths and protect their dignity in the society. Women are very respectable as they brought up prophets and other saints in their homes. They can do so when they are pious. Their Hijab is honor for men and for themselves. The best beauty for women is the dress of Hijab.
Religious fanaticism, calamity for any society
The outstanding Sunni leader asked all parts of the society to avoid useless bigotry in the final section of his speech before thousands gathered in Konarak.
Shaikh Isma’eelzahi urged, “It is a sort of uncivilizing to show bigotry towards Sunnis or Shias. It is a calamity to ban Sunnis or Shias from building own mosques. Some people demand obstacles on Sunni Muslims’ gathering for prayers in Tehran and Esfahan; such elements are uncivilized and fanatic.”
To whom belong Tehran, Esfahan and Tabriz? Are they only for Shias? If any Shia can not bear Sunnis’ Eid and Friday prayers, he is an uncivilized person. If we, Iranians, claim that we have a brilliant past and proud history with ancient civilization, we must not be biased. I denounce Sunnis if they ban Shias’ prayers. Even I advise Sunni authorities to be fair with all; there must not be any discrimination between Shia and Sunni communities, he further said.
Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah alluded to religious liberties of minorities in some other Muslim countries, saying, “Shias and other religious minorities in Turkey enjoy full freedom. When I visited Tajikistan, I asked the president of Tajikistan about liberties of minorities; he informed me that minorities have no any problem. He said the entire nation including Sunnis, Shias and Jews who live in Tajikistan enjoy equal behavior.”
On Thursday morning (20 Feb.), Shaikh Abdol-Hameed Isma’eelzahi, chairman of the Coordination Council of Sunni Seminaries in Sistan-Baluchistan, left Konarak city to Zahedan, his hometown, after a five-day long trip to many cities and towns of the Iranian Baluchistan.